Bone Marrow Donor Drives This Week

It's a chance for you to set yourself up to possibly save a life. Having your name put on the bone marrow donor registry will probably mean that you'll never be called upon to donate. But there is a chance that you could be a match for someone in need. And your donation will save their life. It doesn't get any better than that!

I've been on the registry for years and, if called upon, would absolutely donate. I mean, what an amazing thing, to be able to give the gift of life! There are many blood-borne illnesses and cancers that could cause someone to need a bone marrow transplant. And finding a donor is very, very difficult. That's why the more names they have on the registry, the better the chances of finding a donor.

EMMC is only 216 registered names away from its goal of signing up 1000 people in 2015. That's it! And the process of getting put on the registry is very simple. If you're between the ages of 18 and 55, you'll be asked to fill out a questionnaire. And then, you'll have a painless cheek swipe, so your DNA can be included in your information. That's it!

The folks at Eastern Maine Medical Center shared a story with us about someone whose life was changed by a donation. Kasee Wilson was 23 years old last year when he had accepted a job as a marine engineer. But before shipping out, he was diagnosed with Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS), which means his bone marrow was not producing enough healthy blood cells. Luckily, a match was found on the registry within a month of his diagnosis and he made a full recovery.

You can help someone like Kasee too! EMMC will hold bone marrow donor drives at Bangor Mall on August 12th and 13th from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. And another drive will be held on August 15th at the Lafayette Family Cancer Center in Brewer, from Noon to 2 p.m. during the Champion the Cure Challenge.

I have two last things you should know about having your name on the list. Even if you are called upon to be a donor, you still have the right to refuse. And if you do decide to go through with it, all your medical expenses will be covered. That's no cost to you! You will, however, have to deal with taking some time off from work.

For more information on the Donor Drive, log onto the EMMC website.